Hariri killing: UN report due

Date: 20/10/05

EU-Syrian ties hang in the balance this week as the United Nations prepares to publish its report into the killing of Lebanese businessman and former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

German public prosecutor Detlev Mehlis is expected to present his report into the murder to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Saturday (22 October).

EU diplomats say they will wait and see the contents of the report before deciding on further actions, but have vowed to be "very attentive".

Hariri was killed in Beirut in a 14 February car bomb attack that also killed 20 others. Mehlis' report is expected to implicate senior Syrian officials in the murder.

Much will depend on how far Syria co-operates if senior government figures are implicated.

Ties with Syria have also been strained by demands from the international community that Damascus withdraws all its forces from Lebanon and disarms militia.

UN envoy Terje Rod-Larsen is expected to report on compliance with these demands. While the report is expected to be largely positive on troop withdrawals, Syria is likely to be criticised for hindering work efforts to disarm the militia inside Lebanon.

France and the US are expected to co-sponsor UN resolutions if Syria is found at fault.

"[The EU] will make a political assessment and I am sure we will look at which measures to take," said Nicolas de la Grandville, spokesperson for France's permanent representation to the EU, "there will be a Lebanese aspect and a Syrian aspect".

An EU-Syria bilateral agreement was presented almost one year ago but has still not been signed, as the EU waits to see how the situation in Lebanon develops.

Meanwhile EU Middle East envoy Marc Otte has hinted that the EU may be open to assisting the Lebanese government with police reform.

"Security sector reform in Lebanon will be very important," Otte said.

"The Lebanese are certainly knowledgeable about EU capabilities in that area, they have expressed interest in a European contribution to rebuilding their police forces but at the moment there is no decision taken," he added.

"It is up to the Lebanese government to present concrete plans."

Article anticipates the publications of a United Nations report into the killing of Lebanese businessman and former prime minister Rafik Hariri.
German public prosecutor Detlev Mehlis was expected to present his report into the murder to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 22 October 2005.